Building construction



March 28, 1939.

A. M. MCLELLAN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1957 2 sheets-sheet `1 4 l lNvENToR Manch 28, 1939. n A. M. MCLELLAN 2,151,860 B111LD1NG. CONSTRUCTION l V 7Fild April 5, 1957 '2 sheets-sheet 2 4/ l TIE--4.

Patented Mar. 28, 1939 ALTENT OFFICE' BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ArthurM. McLellan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to McLellan Steel Development,Corporation, a.

corporation of evada.

Application lApril;5,1937, Serial No,135,118y

3 Claims.

My invention relates to building walls and While it .applies yin general Yto many ytypes or walls it is more particularly directed to plaster and cement vhollow-walls which arere-enforcedl byl an 5k intermediate'steel'structure or frame.U

One object of .theinvention is to improve upon the steel structureV set vforth in myl Patent No. 2,053,487 and to provide maximum rigidity combined with lowered cost.

l Another and equallyimportant objectof the invention is to provide improved means for constructing and anchoring plaster-Walls in general; not only to provide-for properly anchoring the inside and outside Walls respectively to theaforel5 said steel structure-but also-to'improve the art of plastered Walls in general.

Specifically, it is an object of thisinvention to provide a combined furring device; lath-anchor and lath-stretcher whereby-therlathe-r may -properly stretch'wire or metallath; fasten the lath'to a steel or Wood'structure; and-automatically fur or space the same all in a simple set of 'operations and AWitha simple, low-costdevice which takes the place of a furring nail and produces results im- ;-5 possible of vattainment with present devices of this sort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building Wall comprising respectively:V the strong low-cost steel frame of the general type set forth infthe-aforesaidpatent, the inside plaster Wall, the outside cementvv or stucco Wall, and layers of Water-proof felt on either side of the steel frame vand. between the frame andfthe corresponding plaster orcement Wall;` all so articulated as to provider a relatively homogeneous structure of high tensile strength and resistance AWhile characterized by Aa certainA adaptability to thermal stresses and sudden'shock.

ItWill be understoodthat, in the caseV of light- 40 Weightand other fabricated steel structures'suitably rigid metal lath mustk be employed to complywith the usual requirements and the lath must either be of such character as to readily retain Wet plaster, or it must be provided with an impervious backing. The latter is preferable since plaster-faced fabricated steel-"structures are not sufficiently moisture proof without paper, felt or the like.

To meet such demand :there have appeared on the market a great variety of ribbed or otherwise re-enforced metal lathV provided-With impervious backing. These have certain of the .advantage sought but have thev objection of high price, high 55 cost-p of application, and high shipping and packing rates becauseoftheir-more or lessrigidnature;

In this connection it is an'object 'ofthis invention'to'provide-a method Wherebya lather of ordinary' skill may` employ' common rolledy felt 'or 5,

paper, common wire-mesh, anda multiplicityof simple fasteners, 'and,'with nomoreeiort than-is now usedA in applyingcomplete fabricated lath, construct an ideal/,plaster base as a substantially integralpart ofthe building or Wall. 10

Another object of this invention isfto" provide ametal orfwirelath and plaster AWall Whichy is so secured'or suspended that the said'wallis carried directly'bythesteel frame or other structural elements of the building and does'notdepend upon 15 the'tens'ile-strength of furring nails, strips-or the like.

Infact, considering-al1 features of this invention collectively, itis an-object of thisl invention to provide a Wall-ofgreat strength, light Weight and lowcost by employing common Vsteel bar stock,- common1 building paper rorv'ielt in*-rol1s, common; Wire -mesh in rolls,l manufacturedY plaster-and-lath anchors of the typedisclosed by this inventiomand a plurality of pre-manufac- 25 tured links formed from common round stock; Whereupon'the applied skill of an-electric Welding expert, a-lather-and a plastererwill. providea complete Wall or a complete building comprising walls, floors and roof respectively; 0

In carrying out my invention I provideftore- 3 place the ordinary `furring nail or like device, a simple'metal device which in the case of frame buildings or the like may be secured by a common lnailfandvvhich in the case of steel structures is 35 readilyv tied to a structural member. In= either event this device Whenattached-provides foranchoring an underlyingsheet'of paper or feltwhich isput in=place as thevwork -o-fv fastening the devices progresses.- These devices,` suitably spaced, not only anchor the paper or felt but also provide a'furringA projection Which stands above the surfaceof the.. paper While being held securely yagainstzany vstructural part immediately underlyerably,.;after passing under a strand-of thevmesh v y remote from the device proper. Now the free end of each wire length is grasped as with pliers and pulled back in the direction of the furring portion, whereupon the mesh is forcibly stretched to any reasonable degree to take up all slack and to cause all parts of the wire mesh to evenly space themselves with respect to the paper.

Now the paper is held in place by the furring means; the furring means hold the wire mesh properly spaced; and the wire extensions of said means hold the mesh suitably and permanently stretched; while the mesh is so articulated with the structural elements of walls that any load subsequently imposed upon it is transmitted directly to the building frame and plaster subsequently applied to the so-formed lath becomes a part of the wall in the truest sense of the word.

In applying features of this invention to the building or wall set forth in the aforesaid patent, I propose to employ the same girders as are therein described. These girders I propose to tie together with the diagonal links or braces in much the same manner as therein described except that I have discovered an arrangement of parts, described hereinafter, whereby only one-half as many braces or diagonal ties between the girders, will give practically the same results at reduced cost. Instead of the horizontal ties or links parallel to the front and back faces respectively of the wall I propose to first tie the girders together with the diagonal braces only, to form the hollow wall, and then I propose to run long rods horizontally along the front and rear faces of the wall and to weld these rods to each girder adjacent each load-supporting shoulder.

I'hese rods not only take the place of the aforesaid horizontal links at reduced cost of fabrication but they also provide what may be termed ribs for the co-extensive felt-and-metal lath which by reason of this invention I am now enabled to manufacture at the site, from building paper and common wire mesh with the aid of a pair of pliers and a multiplicity of the new devices.

I have illustrated by the accompanying drawings one complete practical embodiment of my invention in the form of a hollow, water-proof, steel re-enforced wall having a cement or concrete outer surface and a finished plaster inner surface.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary face View or front elevation of the steel frame employed.

Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof and showing the inner and outer surfaces in place.

Figure Sis a diagram for more fully explaining the unique arrangement of the structural parts shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail side elevation of one of the said devices in the position representing one of the early steps in the application of same.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the device in final position and acting to retain the under- -lying paper, and to fur the wire mesh, and to hold the wire mesh suitably stretched.

Figure 6 is a face view 0r front elevation of the paper-backed lath formed by this invention, and in place on the steel frame shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

Figure 7 shows a modification of the paperfastening means. V

More specifically, the numeral Il] indicates the girder which is manufactured from the two parallel vertical rods II, I I; the plurality of transverse horizontal links I 2, I2; and the diagonal links I4, I4. This girder is not unlike that described and claimed in the aforesaid patent. These girders are placed in the spaced relationship shown to form a self-sustaining frame when connected by the diagonal X-braces I5, I5, etc.; not unlike the braces shown in the aforesaid patent.

In the present case however I propose to space these X-braces thruout the frame so that then there is an open space such as indicated at I6 between each pair of braces both horizontally and vertically. In other words, each two adjacent girders are held together by a vertical row of X-braces spaced from each other vertically, the braces of one vertical row being staggered with respect to the braces of adjacent vertical rows. By this arrangement each of the four looped ends, Ilia, Ib, I6c and I6d respectively of each brace joins the corresponding rod I I of the corresponding girder at a point close to the point at which the corresponding looped end of the X brace of a staggered adjacent row also joins the same rod II.

Also, in conformity with the present invention I show the lower ends of each X-brace joining with the same rods II as do the corresponding upper ends of the braces of an adjacent vertical row of X-braces.

Specifically, where the lower ends of an X- brace join front rods of adjacent girders, the upper ends of the next lower brace, which is of course in the next vertical row, also join front rods. brace join with rear rods of adjacent girders, the lower ends of the next uppermost X-brace, which is in the next row, joins with rear rods.

Figure 3 is a diagram which brings out this point more clearly and in this diagram the members corresponding to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively are similarly numbered. This diagram also illustrates an obvious modification of the invention in which the parts are welded together without the use of load supporting shoulders to encompass the girder rods.

In fact the present Figures 1 and 2 respectively, show the hooked or looped ends of the braces and ties as not completely encompassing the rods of the girders. Inasmuch as these ends are each welded to the girder rods and to adjacent ends these semiannular shoulders are found to have the proper load-supporting characteristics, particularly inasmuch as the truncated ends I8 of each do not exactly overlie the corresponding terminations of adjacent loops or ends. It will also be understood that each X-brace originally consists of two crossed rods which have been welded as at I8 to form an X.

The arrangement of parts shown provides groups of four hooked ends as generally indicated by the numeral 2D, and other groups of only two hooked ends are generally indicated at 2|. For example; traversing the length of any girder rod front or rear it is found that the groups of four ends alternate with groups of two ends. Also, the arrangement of parts described, and considering an extensive wall made up by the arrangement of parts, shows an ideal arrangement of diagonal braces each weaving thru the structure to join with a front girder rod and then with the back rod of the next girder, and then with the front rod of the next succeeding girder, and so on thruout diagonal paths across the entire frame.

When the girders are so assembled together with the X-braces, the structure is still incom- Likewise, where the upper ends of an X- ,23 at. the' rear.

-aismo "plete until au Agrutiers; arched :to each Lother both front 4and rear. Inthe present invention this is done'with zo-extensive rods22 at'the front and Rods 22 are shown as placed immediately over the groups of two shoulders where they are disposed at the front of the frame, while rods 23 are placed where the groups of two shoulders appear at the rear. As a consequence these rods are alternated so that first one such rod appears at rthe front `of the frame while the next uppermost rod appears at the rear.

Thus, as compared with the structure set forth inthe said patent, thepresent invention requires only one-half as many X-braces andonly onehalf as many horizontal tie rods; the present invention also providing lfor using long lengths of common stock in place of a plurality of specially formed links. The two looped ends of the girder links form a supporting shoulder for the adjacent part of the horizontal rods 22 and 23, respectively, and provide for these rods being welded to the girders by being welded to the girder rods as well as to the looped ends of the girder links.

In addition to the rods 22 and 23 finally completing an exceptionally strong light-weight and low-cost frame, these rods have the added function of forming at no additional cost, the reenforcing rods of a co-extensive metal and felt plaster base the equal of the best on the market, not to mention the fact that this invention automatically provides for the lath or plaster-base becoming a welded part of the whole structure.

The device 4, may be variously constructed as those skilled in the mechanical arts will realize, but is here shown as formed of wire first coiled as at 25 in several superimposed convolutions outwardly to form a sleeve generally indicated at 25. Then the wire as at 21 is introverted and passing back thru the coil or sleeve emerges from the lower end thereof and is formed into a greatly elongated U-shaped loop generally indicated at 28. The loop terminates in an end 29 normally outside of the sleeve 2B as indicated by broken lines in Figure 4, but by reason of the soft or ductile nature of the wire and the shape of the loop, said end is readily inserted in the sleeve 26 as shown in full lines of Figure 4.

Building paper or felt 3D, 3B is now placed over either face of the wall provided by the steel parts just described and rests upon the rods 22 or 23 as the case may be. Where the paper rests direct against rods 22 or 23 it is provided with perforations of any suitable shape altho it is here shown as provided with narrow elongated cuts or slots 3l normal to the plane of the rods and thru which the looped end of device l is readily inserted. It is an easy step to force the looped end of the device 4 thru the slot and to then retract it again with the loop of the device hooked around the underlying rod, as shown in Figure 4. At the same time the eXtreme end 29 is passed thru the sleeve 26.

Now the end 25 is grasped, as by pliers indicated in broken lines at 32 in Figurev 4, and the end 29 is pulled to bend the wire sharply over the upper edge of the sleeve as at 3A and to dispose the wire parallel to the paper but in spaced relationship as at 35. This last operation may be done either before or after laying the common wire mesh 36 over the paper. Preferably the paper is attached coextensively al1 over the wall surfaces of a building in which position is securely held by the multiplicity of devices il which are suitably numerous and suitably closely spaced as those skilled Ain the art of applying paper andlath will understand. However, the wire stretching feature of the device 4 permits of usingk fewer devices since thewirevrnesh may be held taut between two well spaced points. l

When theV Wremesh is putin position the eX- treme end 29 of the devicel Vis fished from runder the wire mesh, -as' with "a `pair of pliers, to` come up behind a strand' such as'SSa, well removed from the sleeve portion of the 'd evice. Now the end of the wire 29 is pulled back toward the center of the ldevice 4 and this act will serve to stretch the wire mesh as much as required. The soft wire of device 4 bendsreadily as at 38rover the corresponding strand 35a of the wire mesh and automatically lofcks there. The now remaining portion of this wire end 29 can now be bent over a second strand such' as 36h remote from strand 36a, so that it eventually becomes locked permanently when the now formed lath is imbedded in plaster.

When wire mesh and paper have thus been placed co-extensively over a building or wall the lobv is now ready for plaster; the wire mesh being now held well stretched and properly spaced over and above the felt or paper. The lath provided by this invention actually consists of paper backed with spaced parallel re-enforcing rods and topped with wire mesh strongly stretched from rod to rod and tied directly to the rods by wire devices which are now locked so that the Wire would part before the locking means would release itself. The re-enforcing or backing rods of the lath are in turn a structural part of the steel framevand replace the transverse horizontal links previously used by me.

It will be apparent now that during and after application of plaster the wire mesh will remain stretched and tight and when the plaster has set the corresponding surface walls are locked and tied to the structure in an eiiicient and novel manner to carry out the objects of this invention. Those familiar with the relative co-eicients of expansion of various materials employed herein and with the stresses and strains to which these walls are subject will appreciate that this invention provides an ideal in building construction and with suitably heavy wire mesh and the use of the proper cements or plastics,` oors and roofs as well as side walls may all be constructed according to this invention to provide a doublewalled monolithic structure or building in which the spaced walls are tied together by and are integral with an intermediate steel frame capable of supporting all loads to which the building is subject and without the monolithic walls being required to carry any imposed loads, or act other than a barrier to natural elements.

I have been specific in the foregoing as to construction and arrangement of the parts and devices employed but this is done only in the nature o-f a complete practical disclosure and not to impose limitations to the scope of my invention which is of a broad nature. Therefore modifications of the embodiment illustrated are within the scope of this invention which is hereinafter claimed.

For example: In Figure 7 I have shown a modified form of the device 4 for use in buildings where a nail 4Uv or the like can be driven into the wall 4l thereof. In this form the end 29 leaves the sleeve directly at the top thereof; the nail 40 passing thru the sleeve and securing it in fixed position to the wall 4| while the end 29- of the device is employed in the manner described to engage a strand 36a of the wire mesh 36 to hold 'the latter stretched in furred relationship to the wall 4|.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a wire coiled to form a relatively rigid sleeve, thence passing inwardly thru the sleeve and there forming an elongated U-shaped loop.

2. Lath comprising: plaster-impervious sheets, spaced parallel re-enforcing rods behind said sheets, sleeves distributed over the outer surface of said sheet in rows over and corresponding to said rods with the axis of each sleeve normal to the corresponding sheet, wire mesh superimposed over said sheets in spaced relationship with portions of said mesh resting on corresponding of said sleeves; each sleeve further comprising an integral Wire extent passing inwardly thru the Sleeve, thence thru the underlying sheet, thence around the underlying portion of the corresponding rod, thence outwardly thru said sheet and thru said sleeve, thence bent sharply over the upper edge of said sleeve and extending parallelly under the mesh to a remote strand, thence bent sharply over the said strand and thence continuing over and above said mesh, and then terminating in an end tied relative to said mesh.

3. In a building frame the combination of the lath as in claim 2 and to which frame the rods thereof are welded to form a structural part of the frame While retaining the lath contiguous to the face of the frame.

ARTHUR M. McLELLAN. 

